Heh! I know you sing & all that. You start! :)
I write audio software for musicians, and I play guitar, but I'm out of practice and really suck, so I won't be posting anything. :P-Renegade (September 20, 2014, 08:35 AM)
since you asked nicely...-superboyac (September 22, 2014, 05:54 PM)
Me too! Thanks. :(since you asked nicely...-superboyac (September 22, 2014, 05:54 PM)
:-* wish it were longer-tomos (September 23, 2014, 05:33 AM)
I found it has been far easier on the budget to use my woodworking skills to supply him with the different guitar types he needs-tjbray (November 21, 2014, 06:23 PM)
There's a saying that there's a time and place for everything. In my case, the time was the mid 70s and the place was Boston/Cambridge MA. Although I've done sessions, sat in, or just played with a lot of people since then, I haven't gone at it hammer & tongs (i.e. that professionally) since.Once a rocker, always a rocker. :)
My band's name was Maelstrom ("High-Energy Rock!"). Your classic rock quintet: two guitars (Gibson SG + Fender Telecaster), percussion (Rodgers), bass (Gibson L9S/Fender Jazz), and vocals (1 lead/2 harmony). We were an "all original" rock band trying to get signed at the dawn of the discoerrorera. Two guesses how far that went despite having a good local following. :wallbash:
Our favorite venue was the now legendary and sadly departed Rathskeller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rathskeller) (known as "The Rat") on "Comm Ave." in Boston.
(see attachment in previous post (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=39027.msg367697#msg367697))This is sorta what you'd see at The Rat. Pretty cute, huh? And miniskirts in the dead of Boston's winter? Boy, those were the days!
The Rat was the quintessential "rock dive" bar. Sorta of like Boston's answer to CBGB's which opened one year earlier in 1973. Great music. Great bands. And an unique cast of 'characters' out in the audience. I recently discovered my band was listed on The Rat's Wikipedia page under "Notable Acts." Not too shabby considering some of the bands on that list went on to real fame and fortune. :mrgreen:
Sorry I don't have any pictures, videos, or recordings to share. This was before the advent of digital. Recordings were mostly done in a $$$ recording studio on reel-to-reel and then dubbed to 30 min cassettes or mastered to 45 RPM vinyl. Very expensive in those days. Video was totally beyond the financial resources of most groups. About the only way you'd ever score a video was if you appeared on some local public TV station. (No DVDs, MP4s, VHS or Betamax cartridges for playback yet either. If you had a video it was on a studio grade tape reel.) And all (if any) pictures of us probably went out the door with the girlfriends of the band members after we (not very cordially) ended our musical relationship. :nono2: :rip:
Too bad. It was a really good little group. Haven't done anything I've enjoyed that much since. Sniff! :eusa_boohoo:-40hz (October 27, 2014, 01:49 PM)
Once a rocker, always a rocker. :)-bit (November 22, 2014, 11:43 PM)
However, I must admit, I couldn't find anything cool on the French horn... :P-Renegade (November 23, 2014, 09:01 AM)
BTW - which french horn? There are a few different (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te33fOl_2cw) types.-40hz (November 23, 2014, 11:12 AM)
My son's collection started with a 12 string telecaster I built from a hodgepodge of parts, which I fell back on my car painting days of the late 70's/early 80's and painted Ford Mustang red. I put a lipstick pickup in the bridge position and a hot Texas wound pickup in the neck. From there, we restored and rewired a number of guitars over the next 2-3 years, then I built him a strat wired with 6 DPDT switches to turn on/off each pickup separately and put in and out of phase like Queen's guitarist Brian May. I even hunted down a set of pickups with the same fat poles and specs as May's. That's when instructors, friends, and musicians began asking if I'd build guitars for them.
Just this Summer, my family and friends suggested I put my name on my guitars, so my hobby is now a VERY small business I built a strat style guitar with a Fender TBX (treble bass expander) and an Atrec band control unit. The flawed fender tremolo was replaced with a Stetsbar unit. I have pics of that guitar.
I'm about 70% done with a PJ style bass with active pickups and a through the body bridge. I've dyed its swamp ash black, highlighted the grain with a silver powder suspension, and am French polishing the body now. The rosewood neck I've sealed in lacquer like Rickenbacker does. On deck for future contracted builds I've got a 50's tele style with the body made from a combination of maple, Honduran mahogany, and Peruvian walnut, and a few builds whenever no contracted work is in the making like an arch top with two TV Jones HBs and a barncaster from reclaimed pine that I intend to partially burn before starting.
I'm a retired cop, and this is far more relaxing than chasing bad guys!
That said, I should use this forum to see if anyone could whip out a couple of form apps or files, like an inventory list that I could use to see what it cost me, as well as a build sheet that I could spec the entire build out to provide an estimate sheet and an itemized bill of sale. I may do well as a luthier, but I rather suck at creating anything on my PC or my iPhone. (sorry it took so long to post this, have been away from my desktop for a while now...)-tjbray (November 24, 2014, 12:04 PM)
Hats off to 40Hz as well, I can tell he has been helping pass information on to forum users for quite some time. Maybe in time mine will be laid out and as clear as his!-tjbray (November 26, 2014, 04:32 PM)
@40hz: I'm gonna have to add that to my schematic collection. I've got a strat that I did the Brian May treatment to, and I was REALLY surprised at the variety of tone. Unfortunately, I used metal toggle switches - the kind that stick up about an inch? Yeah...knuckle barking every time I get too excited.
So - I've bought the hardware to re-do it with low-profile black switches instead...but I have no idea when I'll get around to redoing it.. :)-theGleep (November 28, 2014, 06:00 PM)
Specifications
Style: SSB Warhead
Construction: Short Scale Bass
Scale: 32"
Neck Wood:
$180.00 USD
Shaft Wood: Maple
Fingerboard Wood: Indian Rosewood
Stiffening Rods:
+ $0.00
Orientation: Left Handed
+ $0.00
Nut Width: 1 1/2"
+ $0.00
Back Shape: C-Shape
+ $0.00
Radius: Straight 10"
+ $0.00
# of Frets: 21
+ $0.00
Fret Size: 6105
+ $0.00
Tuner Ream: BML Lite (17mm)
+ $0.00
Inlays:
+ $0.00
Inlays: Cream Face Dots
Side Dots: White Side Dots
Pre-Cut Installed String Nut: GraphTech White TUSQ XL - Standard Nut
+ $30.00
Mounting Holes: Standard 4 Bolt
+ $0.00
Finish: No Finish
+ $0.00
Price: $210.00
I certainly have no problem with Schecters, or any number of other brands a lot of musicians turn their noses up at. Actually, the bass I bought when I decided to start playing again is an ultra cheap, but also workmanlike, SX J-bass. Except for having the standard 1.5" jazz nut, it's exactly what I listed in my last post.-Vurbal (December 01, 2014, 11:10 AM)
P.S. I didn't know USA Custom did 32" necks. I though they only did "standard" scale lengths. Good to know. :Thmbsup:-40hz link=topic=39027.msg370379#msg370[quote author=40hz (December 01, 2014, 01:20 PM)
Apparently Fender requires licensees to make them thicker than the Fender originals, presumably to give themselves a perceived quality advantage.-Vurbal (December 01, 2014, 03:51 PM)
I wouldn't know better without more research than I've ever bothered to do.-Vurbal (December 01, 2014, 05:19 PM)
The guy who buys a $2000 - $3000 Fender or Gibson isn't considering a DIY Build.-Vurbal (December 01, 2014, 05:19 PM)
The semi/amis all get into the Mesa Boogies or those other $2K+ boutique amps.
Ah me...the things we do for love!-40hz (December 01, 2014, 08:43 PM)
That should help greatly with my technique - especially since I'm not using a pick like I did the first time around.-Vurbal (December 01, 2014, 09:24 PM)
That should help greatly with my technique - especially since I'm not using a pick like I did the first time around.-Vurbal (December 01, 2014, 09:24 PM)
Nothing wrong with a pick IMO. Just one more arrow in the quiver. I'm a finger player myself. But if you ever play a large venue - or a big outdoor gig - you'll sometimes need to sacrifice that "feel" for the extra definition a pick provides. At least if you want the "pulse" to be heard and felt instead of just blasting out a low amorphous roar.
Check out bassist Scott Devine's website (http://www.scottsbasslessons.com/) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/devinebass) channel. He's got some really good bass-oriented instructional videos. Really nice guy. And a talented and dedicated musician. I always find something interesting and worthwhile there. I suggest you subscribe to (at least) his freebie lessons. I was lucky enough to have my GF buy me a subscription to his bass academy as a birthday present last year. I got a huge amount out of it despite having played a bass for most of my life. (If I have any advantage in music, it's my unshakable belief there's always something new I can learn or try to master.)
Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Scott Devine in any way, shape, or form. I just really like what he's doing for bass players. :Thmbsup:-40hz (December 01, 2014, 09:45 PM)
I wonder if we should ask Mouser about the possibility of getting a Musician/Musical Instrument/Music Tech child board at DoCo?I am not a musician but I love reading threads like this, people talking about their hobbies, projects, passions.
I wonder if we should ask Mouser about the possibility of getting a Musician/Musical Instrument/Music Tech child board at DoCo?I am not a musician but I love reading threads like this, people talking about their hobbies, projects, passions.
I don't want these discussions hiding away in a sub-board, in fact i'd like to see more of them in the Living Room.-mouser (December 02, 2014, 03:09 AM)
I wonder if we should ask Mouser about the possibility of getting a Musician/Musical Instrument/Music Tech child board at DoCo?I am not a musician but I love reading threads like this, people talking about their hobbies, projects, passions.
I don't want these discussions hiding away in a sub-board, in fact i'd like to see more of them in the Living Room.-mouser (December 02, 2014, 03:09 AM)
Looping has come so far it's almost it's own musical idiom and discipline these days. I have a huge amount of admiration for people who have mastered samples and looping for live performance. Tom Dolby does it brilliantly. I have zero interest in doing it myself. But I love seeing other people who do it well. A lot of one-person street performers are into it big time.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNIQrIXlrNw
I've even seen a few one man shows where the performer was also controlling an entire multimedia environment along with the music in a manner far beyond that of the average DJ. Cool stuff. Again, not something I personally want to do. But I respect people who are trying to push the envelope and technology as far as possible.
:Thmbsup:-40hz (December 02, 2014, 01:55 PM)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNIQrIXlrNw
Wow! That is very impressive, (Dolby).-superboyac (December 02, 2014, 03:04 PM)
^It does seem weird he'd do that considering music is such an interactive and improvisational art form. The give and take between the various band elements (bass/percussion/instrumental/vocal) is what it's all about. Or at least it is to me.Why do you care if Van is drunk, wouldn't he sing the same regardless?? (I kid, I kid)
I'm guessing it may have been for reasons of economy. Or possibly to provide a framework for him to perform in. Lifestyle choices are starting to catch up to a lot of the Old Guard. And short-term memory is one of the first things to go. Maybe he's in that camp?
Saw the same thing happen with Van Morrison some years back. We went to see him in a club. About 50 people showed up. He did two songs, took a 20 minute break, and came back on stage drunk off his ass. We all left about 40 minutes later when he stopped the show and started in on a long drunkard's expletive-peppered rant about the music industry.
A few of of us felt so bad for him that we went back the next night. Turned out we were the only three in the entire place. (Word gets around fast.) This time Morrison came out a half hour late - and was already completely smashed when he did. The club owner comp'ed our drinks, gave us our ticket charge back, and we left.
Very sad. :(-40hz (December 03, 2014, 10:13 AM)
DR. HOOK LYRICS
"Everybody's Makin' It Big But Me"
Elvis he's a hero he's a superstar
And I hear that Paul McCartney drives a Rolls Royce car
And Dylan sings for millions
And I just sing for free
Oh everybody's makin' it big but me
Oh, everybody's makin' it big but me
Everybody's makin' it big but me
Neil Diamond sings for diamonds
And here's ole rhinestone me
Oh everybody's makin' it big but me
Well I hear that Alice Cooper's got a foxy chick
To wipe off his snake, and keep him rich
And Elton John's got two fine ladies
And Doctor John's got three
And I'm still seein' them same old sleezoes, that I used to see
Oh, everybody's makin' it big but me
Yeah everybody's makin' it big but me
I've got charisma
And personality
Oh how come everybody's makin' it big but me?
(What's wrong with that?)
(I don't see nothing wrong with it Ray)
Well I paint my face with glitter
Just like Bowie does
And I wear the same mascara
That Mick Jagger does
And I even put some lipstick on
But that just hurt my dad and mom
And everybody's makin' it big but me
Oh, everybody's makin' it big but me
Yeah everybody's makin' it big but me
They got groupies for their bands
And all I got is my right hand
And everybody's makin' it big but me
Everybody's makin' it, makin' it, makin' it
Everybody's makin' it big......ME!
Honestly, that wasn't even the biggest problem in his band. His guitarist was a wannabe late 80s hair metal god with as bad a case of LGD (lead guitarist's disease) as I've ever seen.-Vurbal (December 03, 2014, 11:28 AM)
During their stay I got to talk with them a bit. I complimented them on their music. Ray Sawyer immediately jumped in and said a big factor in their success was that the band had never been afraid to work with and perform music written by outside songwriters like Shel Silverstein. He said a lot of groups make the mistake of insisting on doing everything by themselves. I found that really interesting, and surprisingly humble.There's a lesson here somewhere...-40hz (December 03, 2014, 11:58 AM)
@40Hz: I swore off Fender amps since the last one I tried. Can't remember what it was, but it was loud as hell at less than 100 watts and rang like a gong... Just like my Gramp's '53 Deluxe (which I still have and give periodic TLC :Thmbsup:).-Edvard (December 02, 2014, 02:10 AM)
Perfect compliment to that Fender guitar tone if that's what you're looking for, but I prefer to think of Fenders as the platform everybody else dove off of.
Yeah, I'm aware that they're all Bassman underneath, but I love the soul that happens when you start tinkering...
Honestly, that wasn't even the biggest problem in his band. His guitarist was a wannabe late 80s hair metal god with as bad a case of LGD (lead guitarist's disease) as I've ever seen.-Vurbal (December 03, 2014, 11:28 AM)
+1! :Thmbsup: Right up there with Roger Fisher in Heart's original lineup.-40hz (December 03, 2014, 12:06 PM)
If you you have a vocalist anywhere near the ability of Ann Wilson in your band, she will always be your primary focus, and don't ever forget how lucky you are to have her.-Vurbal (December 03, 2014, 12:40 PM)
If you you have a vocalist anywhere near the ability of Ann Wilson in your band, she will always be your primary focus, and don't ever forget how lucky you are to have her.-Vurbal (December 03, 2014, 12:40 PM)
Agree 100%
To be a good guitarist takes some talent, some education, and a devotion to mastering some techniques.
Pure unvarnished vocal talent, however, is a gift from the gods. Be respectful. 8)-40hz (December 03, 2014, 01:01 PM)
Just for clarity's sake, I don't think most vocalists are all that special, in fact I have a better voice and more skill than most. Ann Wilson is in an entirely different league. She could just as easily been the world's greatest operatic soprano. Even beyond her voice, her skill is second to none, but that voice by itself would put her almost in a class of her own.-Vurbal (December 03, 2014, 02:58 PM)
but they can be developed.-wraith808 (December 03, 2014, 02:47 PM)
(Does any of the above even make sense, I wonder? ;D )-40hz (December 03, 2014, 03:11 PM)
If they're there to begin with. That is something, unlike a musical instrument, that can't be bought. Some vocal abilities can't even be developed. It's there or it's not. And no amount of hard work or sincere effort will get it for you.-40hz (December 03, 2014, 03:11 PM)
Not sure if I'm making sense...-wraith808 (December 03, 2014, 10:27 PM)
Great version! Who is Maria Muldaur??Not sure if I'm making sense...-wraith808 (December 03, 2014, 10:27 PM)
I'm glad I'm not the only one who sometimes feels that way when it comes to discussing something related to music. ;D :Thmbsup:
Funny how what's so clear in the head falls apart when you try to put it into words when it comes to music. A hundred things really need to be said simultaneously. And there's very little that doesn't need to be qualified and re-qualified. And half the time, the exact opposite is equally true.
That's what you get for "dancing about architecture" I guess. ;) 8)
FWIW my guitarist GF tends to start quietly singing this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRwjR7N0H4U) song any time I start getting too analytical or esoteric. (Think she's trying to tell me something? :huh:)-40hz (December 04, 2014, 11:28 AM)
Great version! Who is Maria Muldaur??-superboyac (December 04, 2014, 02:44 PM)
I don't think a Cassandra Wilson (http://www.cassandrawilson.com/) comes along every other week.-MilesAhead (December 03, 2014, 03:23 PM)
Dave Mckenna is a new discovery for me and has blown me away. I have always wanted such a balance of virtuosity, accessibility, and rhythm.-superboyac (December 02, 2014, 05:32 PM)
I think you will find alder has a bad rap as a paint only wood, but I've found that to be misguided.-tjbray (December 06, 2014, 02:52 AM)
Would everclear (95% grain alcohol) work in place of denatured alcohol?-theGleep (December 07, 2014, 04:40 PM)
Would everclear (95% grain alcohol) work in place of denatured alcohol?-theGleep (December 07, 2014, 04:40 PM)
Yup! For shellac it does. IMMO it's preferable (far less toxic). Also a good excuse to hit the package store. ;)-40hz (December 07, 2014, 05:05 PM)
Would everclear (95% grain alcohol) work in place of denatured alcohol?-theGleep (December 07, 2014, 04:40 PM)
Yup! For shellac it does. IMMO it's preferable (far less toxic). Also a good excuse to hit the package store. ;)-40hz (December 07, 2014, 05:05 PM)
I actually have a few bottles to help adjust the proof of my vodka for vanilla extract. I'm looking for the *perfect* extract recipe. I doubt I'll ever find it :)-theGleep (December 08, 2014, 02:48 PM)
But there was no way to get pictures of anyone back then.-TaoPhoenix (December 08, 2014, 10:42 PM)
but they can be developed.-wraith808 (December 03, 2014, 02:47 PM)
If they're there to begin with. That is something, unlike a musical instrument, that can't be bought. Some vocal abilities can't even be developed. It's there or it's not. And no amount of hard work or sincere effort will get it for you.
I sing too. I'm not bad. Three years with a university chorale that ran the gamut from Gregorian chant to Cole Porter taught me a lot about performance and various vocal technique. It made me a vastly better singer than I was before. But I would never consider myself a vocalist first and foremost.
I suspect (no proof to offer on this btw) that probably something like 70% of all people could be taught to sing adequately, with a higher percentage of them being women rather than men. But that's not the same thing as considering them 'singers', any more than being able to accompany yourself on a guitar in a workmanlike manner automatically earns you the title of 'guitarist.'
There's that difference between talent and skill; and craft and art. Difficult, if not impossible, to define. But oh so obvious to almost anyone when they encounter it.
That's what I mean by a gift. Superb singers are gifted rather than merely talented.
(Does any of the above even make sense, I wonder? ;D )-40hz (December 03, 2014, 03:11 PM)
I keep meaning to get back to this, because I do agree, at least where it concerns the great ones. I would add one caveat, that a great voice alone can't make you a great singer any more than dexterity makes you a great drummer.-Vurbal (December 09, 2014, 07:39 AM)
However, on the subject of great singers, I can think of one in particular who illustrates your point perfectly, and that's Corey Glover of Living Colour. Given that every other member of the band could arguably be among the best in the world on his chosen instrument, it would be easy to dismiss Glover as less important,but that would be a huge mistake.
As impressive as it is for the rest of the band to smoothly move between playing R&B to heavy metal to hardcore to hip hop, they still have one huge advantage compared to him. He doesn't get to change instruments when he needs a different sound. What he was born with is what he's got. Arguably, it's even more than that since singing, even the most beautiful singing, actually damages your vocal chords. The fact he sounds amazing singing stuff influenced by, or even flat out copied from, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Bad Brains, Neil Young, and any number of other acts, is at least as impressive as anything you could say about the rest of the band.
It also makes it difficult, depending on the music even impossible, for me to sing and play at the same time.-Vurbal (December 09, 2014, 07:39 AM)
It also makes it difficult, depending on the music even impossible, for me to sing and play at the same time.-Vurbal (December 09, 2014, 07:39 AM)
FWIW that is a very common situation with many, if not most, bass players. Bass players that can simultaneously sing acceptably while holding down a bassline seem to be the exception rather than the rule. Possibly too many brain centers engaged for most people (or at least bassists) to handle at the same time.
Don't know if you've run into this as often as I have - but one of the first questions I usually got asked when auditioning as a bass player was: "Do you sing?" And if I answered in the affirmative, the very next question was: "At the same time?" Which I think nicely illustrates (a) playing bass while singing is not all that common; and (b) you can never have enough vocal talent in your band.
I do remember seeing (long time ago) an early draft study about something like "split roles" in musical performance that was trying to find what (if any) neurological basis there was for some musicians being able to handle multiple roles (instrumentalist/vocalist) in a musical context. I don't know if it was ever completed. Or if it was, and came to no conclusion. I tried a search but I can't seem to find anything. Maybe I just half remembered it from a conversation I had with one of my GF's cohorts when she was getting her Masters in experimental congnitive psych...-40hz (December 09, 2014, 08:07 AM)
Wow. It's nice to know that my inability to sing and play at the same time isn't an anomaly!-theGleep (December 09, 2014, 09:33 AM)
(Actually, I find that *SOMETIMES* I can sing while I'm playing...but it's often that it's just a couple of vocal lines, then I have to go back to just playing)
In my case it's a little more extreme than usual. I have almost no capacity for task switching, which essentially means I have to learn the vocals and bassline for a song as one single part, where some people can learn to simply (note that I call it simple rather than easy) switch from one to the other.
Ironically, if I could do that it would solve my problem of being able to be a front man. It's amazing the distance simply playing an instrument puts between me and the audience.-Vurbal (December 09, 2014, 09:36 AM)
Personally, I think we butchered it every time . Partly it was how bad I thought my oversimplified bassline sounded, and partly it was just the fact it's just hard to pull off with a 3 piece. It always went over well, though, which is ultimately the only thing that really matters.-Vurbal (December 09, 2014, 09:36 AM)
Personally, I think we butchered it every time . Partly it was how bad I thought my oversimplified bassline sounded, and partly it was just the fact it's just hard to pull off with a 3 piece. It always went over well, though, which is ultimately the only thing that really matters.-Vurbal (December 09, 2014, 09:36 AM)
Absolutely! That is the attitude of a professional performance musician regardless of the level of musicianship displayed. It's not just about us and what we think. What the audience expects (and gets) is the other part of the equation.
:Thmbsup: :Thmbsup:-40hz (December 09, 2014, 12:56 PM)
There are few music videos that have made me happier or feel more vindicated about something than this one. Capacitor types are something I have gotten into more pointless arguments over than anything else. The conclusion Joe Gore reaches is the same conclusion that I had reached years ago when it came to the tone capacitor type when used in passive guitar wiring.His faces! Hilarious!
Some interesting comments on the video can be found on Joe's webpage here (http://tonefiend.com/uncategorized/capacitor-smackdown/).-40hz (December 10, 2014, 07:43 PM)
I'm also observing that those who claim to hear things that I can't are also more *superstitious* than I am as well.-superboyac (December 12, 2014, 05:07 PM)
Argh! I don't get the reference. You know how many hours of google research your posts have caused me over the years??
I'm also observing that those who claim to hear things that I can't are also more *superstitious* than I am as well.-superboyac (December 12, 2014, 05:07 PM)
At least you were polite enough not to mention their webbed feet. ;D-40hz (December 13, 2014, 08:05 PM)
^ That shop looks handy just for the cigar boxes.-Vurbal (December 14, 2014, 03:07 PM)
I'm also observing that those who claim to hear things that I can't are also more *superstitious* than I am as well.-superboyac (December 12, 2014, 05:07 PM)
At least you were polite enough not to mention their webbed feet. ;D-40hz (December 13, 2014, 08:05 PM)
@40hz: (re vanilla) - So, I gave out little 1oz bottles of vanilla to my co-workers (wife did the same). So I think I'm on to something. Here's my recipe:-theGleep (December 23, 2014, 09:16 AM)
Uploaded on Oct 20, 2011
"Alla Hornpipe" from Handel's Water Music, Suite #2 in D major.
This performance is dedicated to the memory of my father Mervin Smart (1934-1991) who loved Handel's music.
In this multitrack recording, I'm using the Haken Continuum Fingerboard
(http://www.hakenaudio.com) to control a custom synthesizer built with
Native Instruments' Reaktor software (running on a Muse Receptor 2
for fast response). I used Cubase for the multitrack recording.
The left channel of the audio is the same take I'm playing in the video
(with some corrections). The Continuum surface is split in the Y
(front-to-back) direction so playing above the halfway point produces
a string sound and playing below it produces a brass sound. The
"Mono Interval" on the Continuum is set to 2, which means that when
you play notes more than 2 half-steps apart, you get two separate
notes, allowing you to play dual melody lines in thirds. But if you
play notes 1-2 half steps apart, you only hear whichever note you
are pressing the hardest, allowing half-step and whole-step trills.
So in the same take I can do the 2 Violins, 2 Trumpets, or 2 French
Horns by playing at different locations.
The right channel contains 9 additional tracks, also performed on
the Continuum driving Reaktor:
1. Violin 2 (when it's not playing along with 1)
2. Violin 3
3. Viola
4. Cello and bass (this is panned a little to center)
5. Oboe 1&2
6. Additional trumpet 1
6. Additional trumpet 2
7. Additional horn 1
7. Additional horn 2
In case you're wondering, my finger is injured and I wear a splint
on it to keep it straight. It's a repetitive stress injury from flipping
too many people off.
Haken Audio web site: http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/
My web site: http://www.marksmart.net
More Continuum examples by me: http://www.marksmart.net/instruments/...
This is a perfromance-40hz (January 11, 2015, 01:34 PM)
This is a perfromance-40hz (January 11, 2015, 01:34 PM)
I ain't gonna watch a video of a perv romance! :P-Deozaan (January 11, 2015, 08:40 PM)
I just finished putting some organ on my friends' tracks, for this upcoming album:
http://creativecolloquy.com/special-call-for-submissions-valentines-day-massacre-at-the-narwhal
So it's coming up soon! It was a delightful track, if I do say so myself. A sound we've been talking about for years.-superboyac (January 15, 2015, 06:15 PM)
...
Despite a long history that once included a reputation as an exotic and highbrow instrument, the ukulele has also endured decades of snubbing from both the pop music scene and the more cultured world of classical music. But with the help of trendsetters and tastemakers, it's making a strong comeback—the National Association of Music Merchants reported a 54 percent jump in ukulele sales in 2013—that can be traced in large part to the instrument's accessibility, affordability, YouTube popularity, and celebrity esteem.
The instrument's renewed appeal can be seen in the rise of ukulele music festivals, which have cropped up in places like Reno, Milwaukee, Napa, Port Townsend, Washington, and Rockville, Maryland. Take New Jersey's second annual Ukefest last August at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship Hall, which kicked off with 86 beginners tackling their first piece, "Surfin' USA." During the festival, the rented church was awash with love for the novices—a kind of generosity rarely seen at a piano or guitar convention. “Strum with your index finger or thumb—whatever feels good,” ukulele teacher, author, and songwriter Jim Beloff told the beginners. “There are no ukulele police.”...
Jake Shimabukuro! Wow! Damn that was so good.-superboyac (January 25, 2015, 01:57 PM)
Uploaded on Oct 20, 2011
"Alla Hornpipe" from Handel's Water Music, Suite #2 in D major.
This performance is dedicated to the memory of my father Mervin Smart (1934-1991) who loved Handel's music.
Sorry I haven't been around much over the last few months - been totally obsessed by my cello!!!-Carol Haynes (January 26, 2015, 08:39 AM)
Sorry I haven't been around much over the last few months - been totally obsessed by my cello!!!-Carol Haynes (January 26, 2015, 08:39 AM)
Understandable. Being a bass player, the cello (along with the saxophone) is an instrument I always wanted to take up. Imagine...to be able to play melody for a change...can such a world exist? :)-40hz (January 26, 2015, 08:54 AM)
Cello is inconvenient for travelling but pales into insignificance with double bass hassles (I used to play bass years ago)-Carol Haynes (January 26, 2015, 09:48 AM)
My advice it take the plunge - get a cello and go for it - apart from tuning you have a good head start from bass!!-Carol Haynes (January 26, 2015, 09:48 AM)
It will be 2 years in March since my first lesson and the obsession become more urgent every day - now playing in 2 orchestras and various ensembles including a cello quartet (great fun) .... :-*-Carol Haynes (January 26, 2015, 09:48 AM)
I'm one of those guys that insists on a real bass! Lol, that's always a tense discussion. Here's a very nice story about the most famous bass I know of: Ray Brown's bass. It happens to be right here in town, being played by his hand-picked protege, John Clayton (and I take lessons from his pianist!). A bass player told me this instrument was referred to as "The Truck" for its size.Cello is inconvenient for travelling but pales into insignificance with double bass hassles (I used to play bass years ago)-Carol Haynes (January 26, 2015, 09:48 AM)
Couldn’t agree with you more about travelling with the double bass. And I never humped anything bigger than the 3/4 size. I can only imagine what a nightmare carting the awesome 4/4 would be like. In my "union member" days we used to get a flat "cartage" fee on top of the hourly session fee if the client insisted on hiring someone to play the "doghouse." Needless to say, Leo's Precision and Jazz basses got very popular with booking agents once their clients realized they could save some coin by not automatically insisting on a "real" double bass.-40hz (January 26, 2015, 11:08 AM)
Ok, Here goes:
http://www.brentnussey.com/Ray_Brown_bass/RBbass1cr.jpg
I was so excited I forgot to comb my hair!
http://www.brentnussey.com/Ray_Brown_bass/RBbass2.jpg
http://www.brentnussey.com/Ray_Brown_bass/RBbassfront1.jpg
http://www.brentnussey.com/Ray_Brown_bass/RBbassfront2.jpg
http://www.brentnussey.com/Ray_Brown_bass/RBbass_back.jpg
http://www.brentnussey.com/Ray_Brown_bass/RBbass_scroll.jpg
The scans are a not so good, unfortunately. Somehow theres too much blue in there. The wall behind the bass should be just off-white, but its kinda bluey. And theyre kinda blurry, compared to the (very sharp) real photos. Unfortunately, when I try to compensate for it, the pictures get weird artifacts. Maybe someone knows how to fix it Oh well, I hope you get the idea. If I ever figure out how to make better scans, Ill put them up.
I include the picture of me playing the bass for reference, Im 170cm (57) tall. The shoulders were really big and hard to get around, as Mr. Brown said. I played the bass with the pin all the way in, and it was still tough. But what a sound. Playing this bass was maybe the first time I understood that even though some basses had great recorded sounds, what you hear in the room as another thing entirely.
Mr. Lauder told me that when Ray moved to Toronto in the early 60s, hed had some close calls (damage) touring with the bass, and so they struck up a deal where Ray would take Murrays bass on tour (which was also a good bass, but not this good) and Murray would play Rays bass around town. He did studio and pit work etc. When Ray would come back into town, and Murray got his own bass back, all the producers would ask him Wheres that bass with the holes (in the tuners)? Eventually, Ray bought another bass, by a guy named Silvestre, from a classical teacher of his, which he then traveled with. When Ray moved to LA in 1964, he called Murray towards the end of the year and asked if he wanted the big bass. According to Murray, Ray said that it didnt work well in the studios, it was too loud and bled into the other mics, and was a PITA to carry around. So Murray bought her from Ray. He said when he got her she had all 4 gut strings. Eventually Mr. Lauder changed to metal and had a c-extension added. About a year after these pictures were taken, the bass was sold to Mr. Longenecker. Murray had told me he was going to sell it, and how much he was asking, but told me he wanted to sell it only to a member of the TSO, and that there was a young fellow in the TSO who needed a good bass. The last time I saw the bass in person was just after that sale, and the new owner had put a bridge with really long legs and very little wood above the heart on it. I dont know Mr. Longenecker, but by all accounts hes a great player and a nice guy, so maybe Ill see the bass again someday socially.
So between my conversations with Mr. Brown and Mr. Lauder, the history of the bass is:
circa 1950: Ray finds the bass, with no bridge or strings, in a pawnshop or Mom&Pop music store in NY. He buys it for about 200 bucks (good money then) and takes it to a bass shop in the city, where the guys eyes light up, and Ray knows he has something special. Over the years he has it appraised a bunch of times, and he hears English, Italian, Scotch, etc. Then it turns out its a match for a bass known to be an Amati in England. The bass becomes reputed to be a circa 1640 Amati.
1959/1960: Ray moves to Toronto. Nervous about having his good bass damaged or destroyed in travel, he begins to trade basses with Murray Lauder when on the road. Eventually he buys another bass, by Silvestre, which he travels with.
1964: the Silvestre takes over as Rays main bass. Reasons are mainly that the big one is too big and difficult to play. Also, he thinks this bass sounds better with the new metal strings. In interviews at this time, Ray still refers to the big bass as my best bass. Ray moves to LA, to get off the road and become a studio musician. The big bass is more trouble to carry around, and to play, harder to record, and just plain sounds better with gut strings. Ray has decided to use metal. So for these reasons he decides to sell the bass to someone who already loves it, his old friend Murray Lauder.
early 1992: Murray, in semi-retirement, sells the bass to TSO bassist Dave Longenecker.
2002: Ray passes in July. Murray passes in September.
Postscript: The Amati assertion has always been controversial. Ive talked to at least one guy who says the twin to Rays bass in England is now believed to be a Glassel, made in Marknukeurchen (sp?). To me thats actually great news, theres much more chance of finding another big Markneu . bass than another Amati :) But it doesnt matter anyway. Mr. Brown always said to pick a bass, close your eyes and listen. If thats the sound you like, then thats the bass for you.
Brent
Ray knows he has something special. Over the years he has it appraised a bunch of times, and he hears English, Italian, Scotch, etc. Then it turns out its a match for a bass known to be an Amati in England. The bass becomes reputed to be a circa 1640 Amati.
Postscript: The Amati assertion has always been controversial. Ive talked to at least one guy who says the twin to Rays bass in England is now believed to be a Glassel, made in Marknukeurchen
wow, that's really impressive Carol!-tomos (January 26, 2015, 12:05 PM)
40Hz - if you can play instruments tuned in 5ths I reckon it takes about an hour to adapt to the new spacing.-Carol Haynes (January 26, 2015, 07:50 PM)
@SB - really interesting article. Didn't know some of that. Thx! :Thmbsup:Good read man! glad to hear it coming from an experienced bass player, too. It's so hard for me sometimes to deal with these kinds of music pseudo-science debates! It's even hard to ignore...once the question is raised, you start to wonder, lol! Why shouldn't a new bass sound better than an old one? Because it wasn't hand crafted by the one master that ever lived? Man, so many of these kinds of conversations with musicians. I know for sure I've run a couple past you...regarding digital vs analog, recorded vs samples, etc.Ray knows he has something special. Over the years he has it appraised a bunch of times, and he hears English, Italian, Scotch, etc. Then it turns out its a match for a bass known to be an Amati in England. The bass becomes reputed to be a circa 1640 Amati.Postscript: The Amati assertion has always been controversial. Ive talked to at least one guy who says the twin to Rays bass in England is now believed to be a Glassel, made in Marknukeurchen
*Mini very rational 40hz rant follows. Please feel free to ignore.*
So typical with orchestral basses. :-\ The disputes that break out over exactly what a given bass is. :P
My GF's Mom is a very good violinist who played with several local orchestras. She had (allegedly - although they were both appraised and blessed off as being genuine by some big name string instrument appraisers in New York City) a Ceruti (who was a famous student of Amati) and a Guarneri. They're both fine violins with lovely but very different characters. Not the most beautiful I've ever heard. But they're up there. Especially the Guarneri. However, I've heard some modern instruments I've actually liked better. And those had neither the fancy pedigree - nor the nose-bleed inducing price tags - her two violins had. And let's not even get started on the bows - which are a whole other business and arena for debate!
I guess I just don't get it. Either when it comes to Cremona violins - or '57 Stratocasters for that matter. As long as something sounds good, is responsive, and plays well, I could care less who made it or when or where. But that's me. Which is to say I'm a working musician rather than an investor in rarities or an instrument collector.
Probably the only thing (besides transportation hassles) that I was actually glad to get away from, when I got away from playing string bass, was the mystique and nonsense surrounding the instrument itself. Sure, better instruments made by better makers (using better materials and construction methods) sounded better than those that were not. But I can't really see or hear anything that justifies the some of the reputations or astronomical prices many of these "fine instruments" fetch. I have heard one or two (played by some famous players) that were amazing. But there weren't that many. Certainly not enough to create the industry that exists to buy and sell these things.
(see attachment in previous post (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=39027.msg374319#msg374319))
Sad thing is, that same nonsense is coming to the world of electric bass. There's already the 'collectable instrument' feeding frenzy starting to develop around the '60-'62 Fender Jazz and '58-'60 Fender Precision basses along with Gibson Thunderbirds from the early 60s...
I mean what is with these people? These are mass-manufactured production instruments. In the case of Leo Fender's instruments, they were acknowledged (by Leo himself) to be designed to be as easy and cheap to manufacture as was humanly possible. Even those vintage paint jobs so prized by Fender collectors were the result of his using automotive paints purchased in odd lots from a company that was conveniently located just down the road from the Fender factory. There's a half-joke at Fender that says if house paint was as readily available, and a nickel cheaper a gallon, Leo would have used that instead.
Maybe I'll follow Carol's lead and just switch to cello. ;)
In the case of Ray Brown, I think it wasn't so much the bass itself as it was the bass + Ray Brown. Because the "thing" isn't the instrument (which is just an inert pile of metal, wood, and potential) OR the player (which is heap of DNA, biomass, and spirit) but the combination that really makes whatever magic there is happen.
(see attachment in previous post (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=39027.msg374319#msg374319))
Ok, I'm done! Carry on. ;D-40hz (January 26, 2015, 04:18 PM)
Imagine...two quality instruments for the combined price of approximately five sets of Tomastik-Infeld flatwound strings. The mind boggles!-40hz (January 26, 2015, 08:21 PM)
Imagine...two quality instruments for the combined price of approximately five sets of Tomastik-Infeld flatwound strings. The mind boggles!-40hz (January 26, 2015, 08:21 PM)
That bass is considerably cheaper than my cello strings :-)-Carol Haynes (January 27, 2015, 03:30 AM)
Speaking of which, have you seen the prices of Tokai and Samick instruments lately? Some folks got wind of the fact that some big name manufacturers have at some points in time secretly been using those guys to build their "limited-edition" and even some fill-in production runs, so now there's bidding wars on what used to be seen as cheap asian knockoffs.
So it goes... :-\-Edvard (January 26, 2015, 09:18 PM)
Speaking of which, have you seen the prices of Tokai and Samick instruments lately? Some folks got wind of the fact that some big name manufacturers have at some points in time secretly been using those guys to build their "limited-edition" and even some fill-in production runs, so now there's bidding wars on what used to be seen as cheap asian knockoffs.
So it goes... :-\-Edvard (January 26, 2015, 09:18 PM)
Even with a moron (whom she doesn't seem to mind) horning in to do some party tricks... Seriously Jeff? Seriously? Could you just for once get the **** out of the way and let somebody else play something? That G-G <rest> F#^G thing you're doing - and plucking way too hard* - adds nothing that couldn't just as easily have been handled by the kick drum. In the background.-40hz (January 28, 2015, 09:43 AM)
@Tomos - Yeah. He's botching the friggin' beat too... And she seems like such a nice kid. That little happy smile she flashes when she gets that smattering of applause is adorable.I am really enjoying your animosity towards Jeff Beck, 40.
What a dork to be working for. (Nice dye job or wig you got there Jeff! Even kids in the third world, who never saw so much as a TV set, would take one look and say: "Look Mommy! Man wearing rug! Rug!") >:D
As you may have guessed, I'm not a fan of Jeff Beck. :P
(BTW: He's playing G-G <beat> F^G - not F#. My bad. :-[ )-40hz (January 28, 2015, 01:31 PM)
^ She is a pretty sweet person to say nothing of being rather nice to look at too. Her CV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tal_Wilkenfeld) is extremely impressive. So much so I make it a point not to say "young" or "female" in the same sentence with her name and the term "bass player." She not a fine <fill in the blank> bass player. She is a superb bass player. Period.It's funny you mention that, because I actually had to go back and edit the phrase "Wilkenfeld
And at the ripe old age of 28, she has a long career ahead of her. :Thmbsup:-40hz (January 29, 2015, 05:42 PM)
She also has the best bass face (http://imgarcade.com/1/este-haim-bass-face/) in the business.-Vurbal (January 30, 2015, 07:57 AM)
I am really enjoying your animosity towards Jeff Beck, 40.-superboyac (January 29, 2015, 04:59 PM)
So maybe Tal is Jeff's good luck talisman these days? Her now famous 2007 performance with an uncharacteristically considerate Jeff Beck at the Crossroads Festival did more for Jeff's career (most people were already fairly tired of him) than it did hers. Or so I think. But I could well be wrong about all this. My long standing dislike of all things 'Jeff Beck' (the 'whys' of which are not worth going into) sometimes tends to cloud my normally more rational thought processes.I remember this! And i think you are exactly right! That crossroads performance had me thinking about jeff beck more so than anything else i can think of. I have to go back and watch it.-40hz (January 30, 2015, 10:47 AM)
She also has the best bass face (http://imgarcade.com/1/este-haim-bass-face/) in the business.-Vurbal (January 30, 2015, 07:57 AM)
LOL! Is that what they call that grimace so many bass players do? ;D ;D ;D
Learn something new every day! :Thmbsup:-40hz (January 30, 2015, 08:36 AM)
For the record: I'm more the Joe-Gore-vacant-deadpan type myself. Or at least when I'm not glaring at a fellow band member who is screwing up the beat - or is doing the: "Wow! I'm really blowing everybody away with THIS extended solo!!!..." thing. You can almost see the thought balloon go up when they decide to pull that nonsense. And just before they start, they invariably look over at their bass player with 'that look' that screams - "Gimmee a lot of BASS!!!"
Nice to know we bassists are considered 'just the thing' when it comes time to cover up a guitarist's sins. ;)
And people wonder why I'm so clumsy on a crowded stage that I accidentally bop bandmates on the side of their skulls (with the head of my bass - oops!) as often as I do?
Yeah...I definitely need to be more careful. :-\
----------------------------------
@V - re: the Haim ladies. Agree 100%. Anything done in an attempt to improve Mustang Sally can hardly be a bad thing in my book. I personally can't stand that song. (Same thing goes for Sweet Jane.) I swear next time I get asked to play either of those two I'm gonna plug into a looper and record about a minute's worth, hit repeat, and then go get a fresh draft over at the bar... Cheers guys! Carry on. :Thmbsup: :P
I really love and laugh a lot when I watch Count Basie. So extremely minimal and subtle. An eyebrow raise here and there, a look, perhaps a small gesture. lol.:-*
here's a video of Jimmy Forrest blowing his brains out on Night Train. Basie approves...you can tell with his emphatic nodding @1:32 (emphatic for basie, that is, hardly noticeable to normal people).-superboyac (January 30, 2015, 01:07 PM)
It's interesting that as pop music continues to evolve, it's the bass that is getting louder and louder, while everything else is fading away, along with melodies, songs with more than two chords or measures (lol).-superboyac (January 30, 2015, 12:35 PM)
If you want to clear out a room full of musicians in a minute or less, Mustang Sally will generally do the trick. If there's anybody left at the end of the song, you can follow it up with Johnny B Goode. If they're not gone when that's done, it's time to call an ambulance.-Vurbal (January 30, 2015, 12:47 PM)
Jeff doesn't need anything to bolster his (somewhat unjustified IMO) fame or place in the history books of rock & roll.-40hz (January 30, 2015, 10:47 AM)
If you want to clear out a room full of musicians in a minute or less, Mustang Sally will generally do the trick. If there's anybody left at the end of the song, you can follow it up with Johnny B Goode. If they're not gone when that's done, it's time to call an ambulance.-Vurbal (January 30, 2015, 12:47 PM)
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
@Vubal - thanks so much for that. I've been ROFLMAO all afternoon over that one! Each time I think about it, I crack up all over again. :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup:-40hz (January 30, 2015, 02:27 PM)
If you want to clear out a room full of musicians in a minute or less, Mustang Sally will generally do the trick. If there's anybody left at the end of the song, you can follow it up with Johnny B Goode. If they're not gone when that's done, it's time to call an ambulance.-Vurbal (January 30, 2015, 12:47 PM)
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
@Vubal - thanks so much for that. I've been ROFLMAO all afternoon over that one! Each time I think about it, I crack up all over again. :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup:-40hz (January 30, 2015, 02:27 PM)
That's nothin', I do a mean solo cover of Whipping Post that'll floor you... Ready? Hello? Hey guys wh.... ?? :huh:-Edvard (January 30, 2015, 06:57 PM)
stoic bassists...lol. Yeah, that is a thing. It's true about the listening thing, maybe that's why it seems the bassists are better at explaining stuff to the other members, because they listen better? I also struggle with any kind of extra ornaments when I play because it's hard enough for me to listen to everything and process it all. Maybe when I'm more of a pro I can let that go and do more intentionally interactive things.-superboyac (January 30, 2015, 01:07 PM)
Back in the 90s I saw one of the best pieces of advice for guitar solos - from an 80s speed metal shredder no less. He said if you want to learn how to solo, don't listen to other guitarists. Listen to keyboard players because their solos are composed melodically instead of by finger patterns.-Vurbal (January 30, 2015, 07:54 PM)
It reminds me of something I remember Lindsey Buckingham saying about Van Halen, which I completely agree with. He said his problem with their music is that Eddie's solos are like a completely different song.-Vurbal (January 30, 2015, 04:27 PM)
Pedal and effects power supply transformer, Eight 11 volt, 300ma windings and one 9 volt, 2 amp winding. 120VAC input. This is a transformer, NOT a power supply. The output is AC, not DC. You must build a power supply that converts AC to DC in order to use this transformer.
The key to the ease of building this particular power supply is an unusual transformer sold by a company called Weber Magnetics. It takes 120VAC-in and provides eight separate isolated 11VAC @ 300ma pairs - plus one with 9VAC @2A.-40hz (January 31, 2015, 03:59 PM)
stoic bassists...lol. Yeah, that is a thing.-superboyac (January 30, 2015, 01:07 PM)
...
Unfortunately, my band had this one particular (very fast) song that one of our guitarists staked out as his showcase piece. He gradually stretched his speed solo beyond our 1-minute limit until it ran as long as he thought he could get away with. He'd just close his eyes and go into the Ego Zone until the rest of us (and sometimes the audience) were on the verge of mutiny.
...-40hz (February 01, 2015, 09:13 PM)
The silly guitar noises at the beginning go on entirely too long, yeah, yeah. You try restraining yourself when you've got 30,000 watts of PA blowing your genius into a half-million cubic feet of ballroom. Be thankful we didn't break into "House of the Rising Sun" or "Supernaut".
I would, however, like to get a good compressor pedal, and the Keeley seems to be the one that gets the best reviews. My old Trace head has built in compressor that sounds surprisingly good at a minimal setting. Of course, there are no fine tuning options, and, unlike a pedal, it's not exactly portable to another amp.-Vurbal (February 13, 2015, 10:28 AM)
It's out!I just finished putting some organ on my friends' tracks, for this upcoming album:
http://creativecolloquy.com/special-call-for-submissions-valentines-day-massacre-at-the-narwhal
So it's coming up soon! It was a delightful track, if I do say so myself. A sound we've been talking about for years.-superboyac (January 15, 2015, 06:15 PM)
Sounds good! Keep us posted. :Thmbsup:-40hz (January 16, 2015, 12:09 PM)
^Nice! Very nice. (Like that vocalist too!) :Thmbsup:We think she's awesome, too. Thanks!! Check out this track from maybe 10 years ago. That's Houston person playing sax on it, and one of my first times in the studio, and I was basically just mesmerized because he might be my favorite sax player of all time. Pay attention to 1:50.-40hz (February 13, 2015, 09:00 PM)
I think the miscalculation by Williams and Thicke's Lawyers was catastrophic. You can't tell which way a jury is going to rule on something that actually requires expertise. I don't know what they would have had to do- but they should have done anything they had to in order to avoid that kind of factor.Yea, I agree. the implications can be a little frightening.
That said, the "that songs reminds me of another song" threshold would be a new dangerous legal standard IMO.-wraith808 (March 12, 2015, 03:06 PM)
I think this explains the issue pretty well - except that his examples are actually much closer to the original, compositionally speaking.yup, exactly. I don't know what kind of legal mess we're headed into. I'd say that the sensible thing to do is to avoid trying to set these boundaries on creativity. Easier said than done. The problem is...you DO have people who copy music and hide it. But you also have people who just happen to have the same structure coincidentally. And I don't think it's possible to draw the line somewhere without nazi-fying the creative process. but what can you do really.-Vurbal (March 12, 2015, 05:12 PM)
Ever wonder why all those pop songs sound kinda the same? Well, it's pretty simple; They all use the same 4 Chords!
He’d met a lot of women playing 300 shows per year, and he had a saying, according to Sawyer: “If a woman is pregnant, and she says you’re the father, the only question to ask is: ‘Is it possible?’ And if it’s possible, it’s yours.”
But Sawyer, the biographer, said King also told him something else, a second piece of information that seemed to contradict the first. This assertion had long been forgotten in his portrait of a blues legend now stalked by family intrigue: King and his second wife couldn’t have children, and he took a fertility test that showed his sperm count was too low to conceive. Sawyer said he published this in his book, The Arrival of BB King, an authorized biography that is now out of print. Sawyer said King read the manuscript and could have removed that statement from the book, but he left it in.
Two young ladies playing a matched set of those godawful all-in-one built-in amplifier and rhythm box guitars Vox built way back when.-40hz (October 11, 2015, 11:40 AM)
Vox again revived these body styles in 2013 with their Apache Series Travel Basses.
Two young ladies playing a matched set of those godawful all-in-one built-in amplifier and rhythm box guitars Vox built way back when.-40hz (October 11, 2015, 11:40 AM)
They probably didn't get them from older models:Vox again revived these body styles in 2013 with their Apache Series Travel Basses.-wraith808 (October 11, 2015, 01:12 PM)
Two young ladies playing a matched set of those godawful all-in-one built-in amplifier and rhythm box guitars Vox built way back when.-40hz (October 11, 2015, 11:40 AM)
They probably didn't get them from older models:Vox again revived these body styles in 2013 with their Apache Series Travel Basses.-wraith808 (October 11, 2015, 01:12 PM)
I'm aware. ;) I just didn't feel like getting too pedantic about these things like I usually do in this thread. ;D
FWIW you can still find a limited number of them in various places including Amazon. But they are starting to get hard to find again, so if you have $350-$400 (average) burning a hole in your pocket, you'd better act fairly quickly if your GAS is acting up for one. :)-40hz (October 11, 2015, 01:28 PM)
Dollars to donuts, this will intrigue a few people here:-Renegade (November 13, 2015, 01:49 PM)
Here is an article I found interesting. Be sure to read the sole comment, made by the blogger mentioned in the first paragraph.
http://www.cruiseshipdrummer.com/2015/11/laughable-myth-or-laughable-math.html-ayryq (November 16, 2015, 03:33 PM)
Amanda Palmer-40hz (November 16, 2015, 07:58 PM)
Amanda Palmer-40hz (November 16, 2015, 07:58 PM)
I wouldn't consider her a Cinderella in this piece. She performs a lot.-wraith808 (November 16, 2015, 08:55 PM)
I also think she was the right person, with the right project, in the right place, at the right time - and the crowdsourcing scene was in a unique moment where it wanted to put some real momentum behind something. So I think it was more a phenomenon rather than a sign that pointed the way for others.-40hz (November 16, 2015, 09:33 PM)
I also think she was the right person, with the right project, in the right place, at the right time - and the crowdsourcing scene was in a unique moment where it wanted to put some real momentum behind something. So I think it was more a phenomenon rather than a sign that pointed the way for others.-40hz (November 16, 2015, 09:33 PM)
There are a lot of successful music and art campaigns on Kickstarter and Patreon. And I think it's awesome. It hails back to the 18th century when patronage was a thing. Pentatonix is a group that has benefited from it. And Lindsey Sterling. But that is a supplement that allows them to do their thing in all three cases, rather than a support. And I think that's an important distinction. Without the other side - engaging with your fans in a real way, producing, and performing, you'll never rise to the level of real sustenance. More... subsistence, I think is the word I'm looking for.-wraith808 (November 17, 2015, 09:58 AM)
So I don't see a return to patronage as necessarily desireable or without danger to artistic integrity.-40hz (November 17, 2015, 07:26 PM)
Interesting if a little long-winded at times.-40hz (November 16, 2015, 03:22 PM)
So I don't see a return to patronage as necessarily desireable or without danger to artistic integrity.-40hz (November 17, 2015, 07:26 PM)
I do agree there are dangers- but there's danger in everything. The trick is to be aware of them, and work to avoid them. You really think that the current system we have is any better? And that those same pressures don't exist? The current system is closer to classical patronage- the few hold the money, and they support who they will on a whim. When I say patronage, I don't think towards that system- but more towards those that want support directly. That is what I like about patronage. I give $1 and it's not much. 10000 give $1 and it's a clear sign that you're doing something that people like. 100,000 give $1... and you're well on your way. So I mean everyone being a patron of what they like. Rather than the artist getting only a fraction of what I pay, and being in control of a lesser fraction. And where you have to basically sign away your work in order to get published.
I had a friend... a moderately successful writer. He wrote a pretty niche set of novels, and still writes them. It was originally his story... and one that the publisher just publishes, right? He tried to go into different media. Things that the publisher wasn't even into. Used Kickstarter for it, and was very successful. Too successful one might say- there was nothing from the publisher's side, until the Kickstarter did so well. You can imagine the rest. It ended *reasonably* well, but still, it shows that people above will grasp onto anything they can keep ahold of, and squeeze until there's nothing left.-wraith808 (November 17, 2015, 08:18 PM)
Or to put it more professionally: A "bad option" remains a bad option, regardless of the degree of risk involved in pursuing it.-40hz (November 18, 2015, 12:03 PM)
Which was, I think, was an extremely significant factor in getting her the backing she got - along with her roughly 14 years of "street cred" and active involvement with her fan base leading up to it.-40hz (November 18, 2015, 12:03 PM)
Cardboard Chaos is here and it’s time to riff on a new idea! Rock out with your cardboard stock out! This episode we work with a master builder at the Fender Custom Shop to see if paper has the ability to handle the look, feel and sound of one of the world’s most recognizable guitars, the Fender Stratocaster. A master builder can make just about anything look good, but will it sound good? Will it have tone and will it be able to handle the heat and get approval from one who rocks for a living in one of the most ass kicking bands of the last two decades, Linkin Park?! It’s a tall order and with roughly 250lbs of torque put on the neck of a guitar from the strings – We have ourselves a challenge and some Cardboard Chaos!
Thanks for sharing that! It's so cool! The part that was the best to me was watching the faces of the musicians as they first played it.
I wonder about the weight? And the finishing? And the durability over time?-wraith808 (December 04, 2015, 04:18 AM)
I've been playing Rocksmith 2014 lately to improve my guitar skills- I highly recommend it! Some people talk about it not being conducive to good guitar habits- but all I know is that I've been playing regularly daily and keeping with it- which I haven't successfully done with my other forays into the instrument, and I can feel myself getting better. (As far as background for comparison, I'm more of a keyboard/vocals guy)-wraith808 (February 08, 2016, 12:55 PM)
Hmm, I'm getting double notifications from DC at the moment :huh:
I did Chords 101 with no problem but Chords 102 was baffling; I just couldn't keep up. And the easiest songs just expect you to play chords that you've never "learned." I guess some out-of the-game practice is needed.
But for now I've moved it aside as I'm currently trying to learn violin (!) with my 7-year-old. If you thought listening to someone learn to play violin was painful, you should hear two people trying at once :o-ayryq (February 08, 2016, 06:23 PM)
Check out the Sony MDR-V6 Studio Monitor headset.-40hz (February 19, 2016, 07:24 PM)
Craig Leon, famous for his work with The Ramones and Blondie, as well as his work in the classical arena with such leading artists as Luciano Pavarotti, Joshua Bell and Sir James Galway, talks about the inspiration behind and the process of creating his latest record: "Bach to Moog."
In 1968, the album ‘Switched On Bach’ inspired many musicians of the time to explore the wondrous new world of synthesized music making. This ground-breaking album was the first ever to take standard classical repertoire and interpret it solely on a device which generated new sounds electronically. Although there had been research and sonic experiments earlier, it was after this breakthrough release that the synthesizer entered the mainstream of modern experimental and pop music recording.
As a welcome extension to the synthesized exploration of Bach’s music and the many creative opportunities that opened up 50 years ago, ‘Bach to Moog’ album integrates the Moog modular synthesizer into the orchestra as a solo instrument, in ensemble and also as a processor of other instruments.
Bach to Moog’totally fascinating. thanks!!-40hz (March 04, 2016, 12:18 AM)
Last night a friend helped me install a preamp (Bartolini AGB 918-2) in my bass. By helped, of course, I mean I double checked which wires he was rerouting where (he's always worked on passive guitars), and set up my amp to test it out when he was done.
It sounds amazing now! Since I no longer have to roll off the bass and mids nearly all the way, while boosting the treble to about 3/4, the noise floor has dropped to near nothing. This morning I tweaked the gain trimpot on the preamp. Now I can keep the bass volume at about 80% running through my Joyo American Sound, and a little extra for bypassing it without having to adjust at the amp.
Besides the pedal, which does an amazing job of copping a Fender amp feel, I recently bought an Ampeg 210 (AV) cabinet, and I'm searching for his twin brother. Together they'll make a fantastic stage rig. For the time being, it's great by itself at surprising volumes - perfect at practice and rehearsal volume. Actually, I imagine it would carry a small bar just fine.-Vurbal (March 25, 2016, 08:40 AM)
...
Now I'm married with a steady job, so I no longer have the time nor inclination to blast some chords on the road with some long-haired metal freaks, but I still play a bit here and there, and I still lust after that Ovation. Eastman Guitars put out their loving tribute to the Breadwinner in 2009, and my heart leapt at the possibilities. However, at $800+ it was still out of my reach, and I my big fingers wanted a Fender-scale neck anyway, so... I went to work. A few restless nights with a CAD program and some photos and tracings of the gem in question, and I finally have my dream in reach. It may have to be built with pine or plywood, but so be it.
Ladies and Gents, in humble tribute to the Ovation Breadwinner, but adapted for a longer neck scale, I give to you...
The Loaf Champion:
In the zip, I have included DXF and DWG files, openable by any capable CAD program, and a Readme file explaining what's going on with the layers. I use QCad, so they will definitely work in that, and have used DoubleCAD 5 successfully in the past.
For those who are experienced builders, please advise where I might have gone wrong on this, and for those so inclined to actually build the thing before I do, I require a surcharge payable in build pictures. :P-Edvard (March 26, 2016, 01:43 AM)
So I have a question that I've not really found a reliable answer to.Personally, I wouldn't want to be without a pedal tuner. At the very least I'd want something I can plug into. Fortunately, a friend (with more money than sense) gave me a Pitchblack+ he decided he didn't like, but I don't recommend that for you, or most people in fact. I'm damn happy to have it, but I certainly wouldn't pay $150 for it.
First, I was using a Korg GA-40 (http://www.amazon.com/Korg-GA-40-Large-Display-Guitar/dp/B000EEEYCW) for a tuner.
I moved on from that to a TMR50BK (http://www.amazon.com/Korg-TMR50BK-TMR-50-Metronome-Recorder/dp/B0099RW19S/r), mostly for the dual use of recording and a metronome.
As of late, I've switched to a Snark SN-5 (http://www.amazon.com/Snark-SN-5-Tuner-Guitar-Violin/dp/B004XNK7AI) after seeing it in use in one of my local shops.
I just saw a GoGo Pedal Tuner (http://www.amazon.com/GOGO-Tuners-The-Pedal-Tuner/dp/B008OFGZXE?mode=guest_open) on massdrop. The lowest drop price is 39.99, and I'm thinking about joining.
Is there any real discernible functional difference between different tuners that any of you have noticed? The Snark is convenient, and doesn't actually plug in, but I don't hear any difference between that and a plug-in tuner. I can hear the difference on lower end tuners for sure. But once you get past a certain price point, it doesn't seem that the difference is anything but form.
Thoughts?-wraith808 (March 26, 2016, 08:58 AM)
Personally, I wouldn't want to be without a pedal tuner. At the very least I'd want something I can plug into. Fortunately, a friend (with more money than sense) gave me a Pitchblack+ he decided he didn't like, but I don't recommend that for you, or most people in fact. I'm damn happy to have it, but I certainly wouldn't pay $150 for it.
You want something that's accurate to +/-1 cent, which the more recent models of clip-ons from Snark and TC also are, if I'm not mistaken. The Monoprice knockoff (https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=115&cp_id=11501&cs_id=1150108&p_id=611220&seq=1&format=2) of the regular Pitchblack is supposed to be quite nice, and only costs $20. Some people claim it's the actual Pitchblack, which it might be, but I've never seen any proof of that. In any case it's supposed to be an excellent pedal.
The Pitchblack+ is accurate to 0.1 cents, which mostly just makes it suitable for setting intonation. In my case, it also has a couple additional benefits. Unlike most people, my perception is a lot more accurate than +/-1 cent, and I have perfect pitch. Even in a mix, extremely small intonation issues can bug me.-Vurbal (March 30, 2016, 09:04 AM)
I can imagine it would be that much worse with perfect pitch.-wraith808 (March 30, 2016, 10:38 AM)
I like Korg tuners, and I bought the CA-40 (actually I have a couple of them) because it goes low enough to tune my low B on the five-string bass.I can imagine it would be that much worse with perfect pitch.-wraith808 (March 30, 2016, 10:38 AM)
I wonder how "you people" deal with off-of-440 pitch situations? I regularly play with a pipe organ which is at A4=439Hz. Does that drive you nuts or do you adjust?-ayryq (March 30, 2016, 10:47 AM)
Didn't know if anyone was looking for some good, reasonably priced, effects pedals.
An assortment of valeton pedals (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/valeton-guitar-pedals?mode=guest_open) are on massdrop. 3 days left on the drop.-wraith808 (March 26, 2016, 10:45 PM)
So I have a question that I've not really found a reliable answer to.Personally, I wouldn't want to be without a pedal tuner. At the very least I'd want something I can plug into. Fortunately, a friend (with more money than sense) gave me a Pitchblack+ he decided he didn't like, but I don't recommend that for you, or most people in fact. I'm damn happy to have it, but I certainly wouldn't pay $150 for it.
First, I was using a Korg GA-40 (http://www.amazon.com/Korg-GA-40-Large-Display-Guitar/dp/B000EEEYCW) for a tuner.
I moved on from that to a TMR50BK (http://www.amazon.com/Korg-TMR50BK-TMR-50-Metronome-Recorder/dp/B0099RW19S/r), mostly for the dual use of recording and a metronome.
As of late, I've switched to a Snark SN-5 (http://www.amazon.com/Snark-SN-5-Tuner-Guitar-Violin/dp/B004XNK7AI) after seeing it in use in one of my local shops.
I just saw a GoGo Pedal Tuner (http://www.amazon.com/GOGO-Tuners-The-Pedal-Tuner/dp/B008OFGZXE?mode=guest_open) on massdrop. The lowest drop price is 39.99, and I'm thinking about joining.
Is there any real discernible functional difference between different tuners that any of you have noticed? The Snark is convenient, and doesn't actually plug in, but I don't hear any difference between that and a plug-in tuner. I can hear the difference on lower end tuners for sure. But once you get past a certain price point, it doesn't seem that the difference is anything but form.
Thoughts?-wraith808 (March 26, 2016, 08:58 AM)
You want something that's accurate to +/-1 cent, which the more recent models of clip-ons from Snark and TC also are, if I'm not mistaken. The Monoprice knockoff (https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=115&cp_id=11501&cs_id=1150108&p_id=611220&seq=1&format=2) of the regular Pitchblack is supposed to be quite nice, and only costs $20. Some people claim it's the actual Pitchblack, which it might be, but I've never seen any proof of that. In any case it's supposed to be an excellent pedal.
The Pitchblack+ is accurate to 0.1 cents, which mostly just makes it suitable for setting intonation. In my case, it also has a couple additional benefits. Unlike most people, my perception is a lot more accurate than +/-1 cent, and I have perfect pitch. Even in a mix, extremely small intonation issues can bug me.-Vurbal (March 30, 2016, 09:04 AM)
By Ben Spencer for the Daily Mail
- Singing reduces stress hormones, such as cortisol, and boosts mood
- Reducing anxiety takes strain off immune system so it can fight disease
- People with depression experienced the greatest mood improvement
- The research suggests singing in a choir could help put cancer patients in the best possible position to receive treatment and stop tumours returning
Published: 23:46 GMT, 4 April 2016 | Updated: 08:08 GMT, 5 April 2016
Singing in a choir boosts the immune system and even helps the body fight cancer, according to research.
Scientists found that just one hour of singing significantly increased levels of the immune proteins that the body uses to battle serious illnesses including cancer.
Experts have long known that singing improves mood.
But the new research, conducted by scientists at Imperial College London, University College London and the Royal College of Music, found that it also has a profound impact on the immune system.
Singing in a choir boosts the immune system and even helps the body fight cancer, according to research conducted by Imperial College London, University College London and the Royal College of Music
Singing in a choir boosts the immune system and even helps the body fight cancer, according to research conducted by Imperial College London, University College London and the Royal College of Music
The team found that singing for an hour resulted in significant reductions in stress hormones, such as cortisol, and increases in cytokines, immune proteins that boost the body’s ability to fight serious illness.
Doctors suspect that reducing stress and anxiety takes strain off the immune system, allowing it to better use its resources at fighting disease.
The research raises the possibility that singing in a choir could help to put cancer patients in the best possible position to receive treatment and stop tumours from returning afterwards.
The project, which was funded by the Tenovus Cancer Care charity, tested 193 members of five different choirs in Cardiff, Bridgend, Pontypridd, Cwmbran and Swansea.
Of the participants, 55 had cancer.
Choir members gave samples of their saliva before an hour of singing, and then again just after. The samples were analysed to see what changes occurred in levels of hormones and immune proteins.
The study, published in the journal ECancer Medical Science, also found that people who were suffering most from depression experienced greatest mood improvement.
Levels of inflammation in the body, which is known to impede the immune system, were also lowered.
Dr Ian Lewis, director of research and policy at Tenovus Cancer Care and co-author of the research, said: ‘These are really exciting findings.
‘We have been building a body of evidence over the past six years to show that singing in a choir can have a range of social, emotional and psychological benefits, and now we can see it has biological effects too.
‘We’ve long heard anecdotal evidence that singing in a choir makes people feel good, but this is the first time it’s been demonstrated that the immune system can be affected by singing. It’s really exciting and could enhance the way we support people with cancer in the future.’
Scientists found that just one hour of singing significantly increased levels of the immune proteins that the body uses to battle serious illnesses including cancer
Scientists found that just one hour of singing significantly increased levels of the immune proteins that the body uses to battle serious illnesses including cancer
Dr Daisy Fancourt, research associate at the Centre for Performance Science, a partnership between the Royal College of Music and Imperial College London, added: ‘Many people affected by cancer can experience psychological difficulties such as stress, anxiety and depression.
Research has demonstrated that these can suppress immune activity, at a time when patients need as much support as they can get from their immune system.
‘This research is exciting as it suggests that an activity as simple as singing could reduce some of this stress-induced suppression, helping to improve wellbeing and quality of life among patients and put them in the best position to receive treatment.’
This research is exciting as it suggests that an activity as simple as singing could reduce some of this stress-induced suppression
Diane Raybould, 64, a breast cancer patient who took part in the study, has been singing with the Bridgend Sing with Us choir since 2010.
She said: ‘Singing in the choir is about more than just enjoyment, it genuinely makes you feel better.
‘The choir leaders play a huge part of course, but so does the support of the other choir members, the inspirational programme and uplifting songs.
‘The choir is a family, simple as that. Having cancer and losing someone to cancer can be very isolating. With the choir, you can share experiences openly and that is hugely important.’
Co-author Rosie Dow, head of Sing with Us project at Tenovus Cancer Care, added: ‘This research is so exciting, as it echoes everything all our choir members tell us about how singing has helped them.
‘I’ve seen peoples’ lives transformed through singing in our choirs so knowing that singing also makes a biological difference will hopefully help us to reach more people with the message that singing is great for you - mind, body and soul.’
Just wondering if any of you guys can sing, play guitar, piano...anything musical really!
If so...why not let all all hear you?! Would love to hear/see some recordings of you guys!
~Stephen-Stephen66515 (September 20, 2014, 07:20 AM)
A bad year for music. First Bowie, and now Prince. Two innovators in music in the same year. :(-wraith808 (April 21, 2016, 12:26 PM)
A bad year for music. First Bowie, and now Prince. Two innovators in music in the same year. :(-wraith808 (April 21, 2016, 12:26 PM)
A bad year for music. First Bowie, and now Prince. Two innovators in music in the same year. :(-wraith808 (April 21, 2016, 12:26 PM)
wow, that was a surprise :(
EDIT// realised that might have sounded a bit flippant. I really was stunned by that one, I guess because of his age, and not having heard of any illness etc.-tomos (April 21, 2016, 03:31 PM)
Flu kills older people, so it makes sense.-wraith808 (April 21, 2016, 04:37 PM)
Flu kills older people, so it makes sense.-wraith808 (April 21, 2016, 04:37 PM)
Is 57 considered "older" these days? I thought 50 was the new 35. Or all the marketing departments just lying in an attempt to appeal to the baby boomer generation?-Deozaan (April 21, 2016, 06:04 PM)
Flu kills older people, so it makes sense.-wraith808 (April 21, 2016, 04:37 PM)
Is 57 considered "older" these days? I thought 50 was the new 35. Or all the marketing departments just lying in an attempt to appeal to the baby boomer generation?-Deozaan (April 21, 2016, 06:04 PM)
Biology and Physiology don't subscribe to anything but science.-wraith808 (April 21, 2016, 06:13 PM)
Science has made it so that people can live longer, healthier lives. So, considering the improvements in science and medicine, is 57 still considered "older" these days?-Deozaan (April 21, 2016, 07:25 PM)
I didn't really mean anything by my comment about 50 being the new 35. I guess I was just surprised at 57 being considered "older" because to me it doesn't seem to fit my idea of an "older" person. Time for me to adjust my perspective.-Deozaan (April 21, 2016, 07:25 PM)
I didn't really mean anything by my comment about 50 being the new 35. I guess I was just surprised at 57 being considered "older" because to me it doesn't seem to fit my idea of an "older" person. Time for me to adjust my perspective.-Deozaan (April 21, 2016, 07:25 PM)
Oh bullshit...there is nothing wrong with your perspective. 57 is older than 35 true...but it isn't older like people think of their grandparents being "older".
...Even if I am a grandfather at 51, that's different.. :D-Stoic Joker (April 22, 2016, 11:16 AM)
I didn't really mean anything by my comment about 50 being the new 35. I guess I was just surprised at 57 being considered "older" because to me it doesn't seem to fit my idea of an "older" person. Time for me to adjust my perspective.-Deozaan (April 21, 2016, 07:25 PM)
Oh bullshit...there is nothing wrong with your perspective. 57 is older than 35 true...but it isn't older like people think of their grandparents being "older".
...Even if I am a grandfather at 51, that's different.. :D-Stoic Joker (April 22, 2016, 11:16 AM)
Once you get into theolderupper middle age, you have to start thinking about it not as middle aged, but as older for certain medical things.-wraith808 (April 22, 2016, 12:04 PM)
I wish I'd thought about it as such, and I'm not yet to the half-century mark.-wraith808 (April 22, 2016, 12:04 PM)
It was a lot harder for me to get over a full fledged blowout of the flu last year, so I make sure I get the vaccine.-wraith808 (April 22, 2016, 12:04 PM)
It's that "I'm not old syndrome" that kills a lot of people younger than they need to be dead. Especially in regards to going to the doctor regularly.-wraith808 (April 22, 2016, 12:04 PM)
I'm old, but I'm not old ... and I've no interest in getting stuck on a bunch of pills by some quack that is "Practicing" medicine because they think I should be on something...for some reason...that's probably insurance billing related.-Stoic Joker (April 22, 2016, 01:13 PM)
Flu kills older people, so it makes sense.-wraith808 (April 21, 2016, 04:37 PM)
Is 57 considered "older" these days? I thought 50 was the new 35. Or all the marketing departments just lying in an attempt to appeal to the baby boomer generation?-Deozaan (April 21, 2016, 06:04 PM)
And for some odd reason, I get the feeling that the bad news for 'this year in music' isn't over yet.-40hz (April 21, 2016, 01:37 PM)
Pop music fans may have only known Billy Paul for a single song, but what a song it was. And soul music fans will remember the much deeper catalog of soul and jazz recordings and live performances that kept Billy in our minds right until this sad day. He will be missed and remembered.
Well, as others have pointed out (and I've experienced this as a bit of a creative myself--I'm a photographer) you would like to make enough off your skills, vision and effort that you can continue to afford to do what you love, and be able to focus on it instead of having to take other work just to pay the bills.
Speaking to music, the world has been sadly deprived of two fantastically talented artists, Mark Linkous and Vic Chesnutt, both of who killed themselves and in both cases, friends have said, financial struggles contributed to their depression and may have led to some extent to their deaths. Both had physical problems that likely made touring somewhat onerous, and they did not seem emotionally equipped for the rigours of life on the road. It's a shame that they couldn't make enough off their recorded output--even though they were never huge sellers, both had a fanatically loyal fanbase and vast critical acclaim--to sustain them financially.
Regardless of how talented you may be, music is still a group effort more often than not. And while it's good to stand on your aesthetic sensibilities, "vision," and your principles, it's still no excuse for being utterly insensitive to other creatives, or difficult to work with.
While I hesitate to pass judgement on any musician I haven't personally worked with (except for Jeff Beck! I have no qualms about dissing Jeff Beck!!! >:( ) based on most of what I've seen and read about the man over the course of his career (including his own words from several interviews), I can't help but conclude he was a royal horse's ass - and a royal pain in the ass to work with at even the best of times. And while talented and obviously an accomplished musician, I don't see anything in his career that justifies elevating him to the status of a minor deity that the popular press seems so intent on making him. He was a very good pop musician. And an accomplished stage performer. And that's about all he was. Shouldn't that be enough?-40hz (April 25, 2016, 02:58 PM)
...I think he affected music and lot beside on the same level that Bowie did.-wraith808 (April 25, 2016, 04:52 PM)
And I'm just a bassplayer - so what do I know?-40hz (April 25, 2016, 09:26 PM)
The best part is now that I'm going to these things as a player,
@Vurbal - that sounds pretty awesome. And your wife reminds of my own lady a little. Sounds like a keeper.-40hz (July 29, 2016, 08:22 PM)
There are only so many times you can hear They Call It Stormy Monday
That Stormy Weather rendition, while I love the vocals, so missed that, is definitely excellent from an instrumental standpoint. It brought to memory one of my regrets. My father was very big into Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and many more performers of that era. And he was really into musicals- Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, etc. In fact, I remember my proudest moment was giving him the complete selection of Rodgers and Hammerstein on DVD when they first came out. A pretty penny, but the look on his face...That sounds so much like my dad, except add in old country music, or as he called it, having grown up in the Alleghany Mountains, hillbilly music.
Now that he's gone, and I've started to appreciate that music, I kick myself, and it makes me sad. I never took the time to cross to his side of the street until it was too late, and I find myself wondering what he thought/would think about certain renditions, or composers, or dancers that I was never interested enough to ask him about.
sigh-wraith808 (July 30, 2016, 12:49 PM)
It was probably better than most teenagers have with their parents, but it still hurts to think about how I left things with him.-Vurbal (July 31, 2016, 10:35 AM)
The majority allows the Gayes to accomplish what no one has before: copyright a musical style. “Blurred Lines” and “Got to Give It Up” are not objectively similar. They differ in melody, harmony, and rhythm. Yet by refusing to compare the two works, the majority establishes a dangerous precedent that strikes a devastating blow to future musicians and composers everywhere.
Now though, music experts have told the Victoria Derbyshire programme that artists are being advised not to mention publicly who has inspired them. This is because of a high-profile copyright infringement case in which US jurors ruled that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams, on their song Blurred Lines, had copied Marvin Gaye's Got To Give It Up.
According to forensic musicologist Peter Oxendale "everyone's concerned that inspiration can [now be interpreted as] a catalyst for infringement.
"All of these companies are worried that if a track is referenced on another at all, there may be a claim being brought," he explains.
...though I can't help feeling that it seems to be formulaic MTV stuff, too artificially Japanesey-cute, lacking in originality and seemingly borrowing variously from and blending the Spice Girls, Nikki Minage, Pussycat Dolls, Sugababes and others. Not much different to, but probably harmonically nicer-sounding than the majority of the current crop of pop music, I suppose.-IainB (November 25, 2016, 09:07 AM)